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FIONA
“I thought you could use another cup of coffee,” my mother says after knocking on the door and walking into the bedroom I’m holed up in to get some work done.
“Thank you. I’ll be back down after I take care of a few things.” I take the coffee gratefully. After the sleepless night I’ve had, I need every ounce of caffeine I can get my hands on.
“You don’t get much of a break in this new job of yours, do you?” she asks, smoothing out the quilted comforter spread out across my bed.
“This is the slow part. Wait until we start filming.”
“I guess we should enjoy having you while we do. I’ll let you get back to whatever it is you’re doing, then.” She waves at my computer with its twenty open tabs.
“I’ll be down in a bit,” I promise as she walks out the door.
She turns and waits until I look up at her. “Fiona, this isn’t going to interfere with your sister’s wedding, is it? It’s a big day for Gwen. I need you to be there for her.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She smiles and pulls the door closed behind her.
It takes me longer than it should to get back into the long list of emails cluttering up my inbox.
“Maybe this visit was a mistake,” I mutter to myself before pulling my phone out of my pocket to call Cara.
“Hi, boss. How’s the vacation?” she asks, answering on the first ring, sounding as chipper as ever.
“Don’t ask.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. How has my life gotten so complicated over the course of a week?
“Got it. No questions about anything Rockville related. What can I do for you?”
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with Dave since yesterday. Any idea what he’s up to?” I ask.
“It’s personal, and I’m sworn to secrecy. Between you and me, he’s trying to spend some quality time with his wife before things get crazy with his movie. You didn’t hear that from me, though. What do you need from him? Maybe I can help?”
I laugh. Cara is a great office manager, but she can’t keep a secret. “I wanted to run our choices for casting director and writers by him. Maybe get a head start on a location scout. You know, the usual.” I glance at the list beside my laptop.
“Oh, Dave talked about that before he left on Friday. He said he trusts your judgment and for you to go ahead and reach out to whomever you want on your team. If you give me a list of names, I can coordinate with legal and get some contracts written up. Usual pay?” she asks.
“That would be perfect. Let me make a few calls and send you a list.”
An hour later, I have five names to share with her. Enough to really get us off the ground running when we get back to town in a couple of days.
“Knock, knock.” My twin sister is standing in the door.
“I didn’t hear you come up.” I lost myself in my work.
“I know. Mom’s been calling from the bottom of the stairs. I was hoping to kidnap you and take you to lunch. What do you say? Crab cakes at the Shack?”
“I really should—”
My eyes flick back to the screen. I’m trying to talk Charles into coming back to Wilmington. He’s the best location scout I know, but he seems reluctant.
“You really should spend some time with your sister. I haven’t seen you in months, and I could use your help. As maid of honor, it’s your job to keep me from freaking out.”
“You’re right. I could use a break, and I can’t really leave Rockville without a fix from the Shack. Give me five minutes to wrap up a couple of emails?”
Gwen nods and heads back downstairs.
I send one more email to Charles. On a hunch, I tell him that Meave is busy filming in Toronto, and there’s no chance he’ll run into her in town. I pray that does the trick.
